There's been time for a good night's rest in comfortable beds and a hot, tasty breakfast at Snowshoe's, with a bit of meat fetched again by an early-rising, late-sleeping Wanda, thoughtfully provided in a box this time so Anisa doesn't have to see it. Gibson insisted that Lilac spend the night with him in his room with the door locked, and he made it perhaps unnecessarily clear that it was only out of concern for Lilac's transformative quirk. The hot breakfast sits well, and helps ward off some of the chill from a light drizzle that comes down.

Anisa's gym is fairly quiet in the mornings, a little more so today with the weather. Some of her hard line regulars are around, pumping ceramic, softening spots on the punching bags with their knuckles, or sparring in the ring. Naomi, her services not required at the moment, busies herself checking her stock of disinfectants and linen.

Kin has been her generally quiet self for most of the morning, as she's felt extremely out of place. She dresses simply today, another plain robe and simple sash with her two swords tucked into it. As they enter the gym, her head rolls and flicks in serpentine movements as she takes in the practice on the punching bags and the sparring in the ring. Her brow ridge furrows a bit as she almost looks as if she wants to say something, but in the end does not.

In her office, Anisa sits at her desk, feet propped up and leaning back while idly twirling an ear with her paw. "More paperwork," she sighs, eying the monstrous stack on her desk. She then looks up to her brother. "Please tell me you can get me out of here today. I can take anything the Society can throw at me, but this stuff is just torture."

"Oh, it's not as bad as all that, Miss Snowshoe," chirps Naomi, smiling winsomely as she winds a spool of thread. "You just need to keep after it regularly, like any training, right?" The Rath'ani looks up as Kin arrives, and several of the gym patrons seem to size the Kiriga up as well.

The (mostly) human woman, Lilac, has also been quiet. Despite spending the night with Gibson, she's seemed downcast ever since he related she should stay with him because of her apparent curse. Now, inside the gym, she stands in front of a mirror, playing with one of her ears and frowning contemplatively.

Gibson and Wanda bring up the rear, the former looking uncomfortable and the latter wearing, as usual, that lopsided little smile of hers that she never seems to have any business wearing.

When looked at, Kin bows her head politely to them. "Please, do not stop on my account," she says in accented standard. "I find the practicing … intriguing. A most blunt style. And pardon the observation, but you should work on your forearm alignment with your fists. It is not … ah, straight enough. The bend will lessen the force you deliver."

Anisa sits forward, putting head in paws. "If you say so, Naomi. I'd rather be punching it that writing on it. Speaking of which… " The Lapi springs from her chair, and walks over to one of the unused punching bags, which she promptly starts to dance and jab at. "So, ffft what's on the – ha! – itenary for today? Do we go back to the mansion," she promptly kicks the bag, "or do we have something else to look for?"

The well-built doberman Gallah that was practicing at the bag hesitates, then looks down at his fists, bending his wrists a little bit, then straightening them out again. "I was bending my wrists? … Huh."

Still in mid practice, the Lapi doe swivels an ear in Kin's direction, listening to her commentary on the practicing fighters with an arched brow of interest.

"A bit. It is a common error to make. You should keep the first two knuckles and their bones in perfect line with your forearm when your strike lands. Otherwise some of the force will shift to the side. A bend also increases the chance of spraining your wrist or elbow," the Kiriga notes. "Since you are using a soft bag it is less noticeable. When you move up to using wooden posts for practice, you will notice."

Anisa's bag shudders a few times with the jabs, then swings when it's kicked, the ropes above it creaking. It's caught from the other side, then held steady by Gibson, who smiles around it at his sister. "You've really been hard at it, haven't you?"

"Nah, I just started!" Anisa throws a hard left at her canvas opponent, grinning at her brother. "Unless, you mean in general, in which case you might say I've practiced a tad." She nods over to Kin. "Looks like she knows her way around a brawl, too. No wonder you brought her along!"

Lilac tilts her head left, then right, then perks her ears before lowering them. She searches her face as if looking for something, oblivious to odd looks and the arrival of the others. She had actually arrived earlier, saying that she wanted to take a walk to think.

The doberman takes a couple more swings at his training target, adjusting the angle of his fists a bit, a thoughtful look on his sharp face. "Hmm. Yeah… I kinda have to change my jab up a bit, but I sorta see what you mean." Another fit Gallah nearby, shorter and covered in dense black fur, like a terrier, looks on skeptically. "A wooden post? You can't train on a wooden post, you'd hash your knuckles up."

Anisa's bag shudders again, and the black Lapi holding it grins. "That's what I meant. When I heard you had a gym, I had no idea it'd be something like this, you've really done great for yourself. I remember when you were just mixing it up with the kids in the bazaar, and now look at you."

Kin's head tilts so she can look at the terrier. She gives him a confused look, saying, "Only at first. You must build up the strength of the flesh and bone. Striking a bag is nothing like striking bone or armor."

With a bit of a sigh, Lilac gives up on staring at her reflection. She wanders away from the mirror, taking some time to examine the various fitness equipment with a vaguely curious expression. According to what she said earlier, she's never seen a gym before.

"Oh, I still mix it up now and then," Anisa replies, giving a hard front kick to the bag. "A few months ago Wendy and I went out to a club and this one guy was being pretty crass towards her, so I had to get serious and- um, never mind. I'll tell you later." She grins at Gibson. "The Gym's been doing pretty good, but I never knew running a business was such a pain in the tail. Gives me a whole new world of sympathy for Quinn and Daddy."

The doberman looks curious, but the terrier gives Kin a good-natured laugh. "C'mon now, lady. No offense, I can see yer wearin' swords, an' all of us learned from Miss Snowshoe a long time ago that a girl can be tough, but you're a skinny li'l thing. What would you know about strength?" He gives his chest a meaty thump with his fist to emphasize his physique.

To someone not familiar with formalized exercise, the gym equipment looks a bit uncomfortable. "Looks rather unfriendly, doesn't it?" says the gym nurse. Naomi seems to have finished up with her busywork, and stands near Lilac, still smiling. Leaning a little toward the soft side, the Rath'ani looks rather out of place here.

"The sapling is thin, and yet when honed, it creates a bow that can send an arrow through the toughest armor. Size is not a measure of power, sir," the Kiriga says with a smile and a dip of her head. "If you are curious, we can step into the sparring ring. Or, we could have a contest of breaking, if you prefer. Though, I do not know if Lady Snowshoe keeps planks on hand for such."

Anisa keeps an ear fixed on the conversation between Kin and the doberman, and at the Gallah's words pause from her exercise to turn towards them. "I'd listen to her, Hauser," she says to him while wiping sweat from her ears, "the gal sounds like she knows what she's talking about. We don't have any planks, but you're more than welcome to get in the ring together." She grins and adds, "with pads, of course."

Lilac bends over to pick up a jump robe, peering at it as if not quite sure what to do with it. "What's this?" she calls back to Gibson, her voice sounding more subdued than usual.

The doberman, responding to the name Hauser, glances back over at the pair of rabbits. "Well, I'm still reserving judgment. It's Jack you have to convince." The terrier shrugs and grins. "Well, just doesn't make no sense to me, is all I'm sayin'. But I ain't too good to match knuckles with a lady, if she wants." He dusts himself off and gets to his feet, bouncing on his toes a couple times.

"Men," Kin comments in Imperial and shakes her head. "Very well," she says with a bow to Jack. the kirgia then turns and walks over to Anisa and Gibson. "Since you wish us to use pads, I will not have to obtain his address. I shall not need to send flowers to his family," she says in complete deadpan. "What are the rules for the sparring ring here?"

Lilac blinks as she looks back, just seeming to notice Naomi standing there. Given her surprise, she probably didn't hear the woman, either. "Oh," Lilac says, sounding a little lost. "Did you say something? I'm sorry, I was thinking."

Gibson starts to reply to Lilac, then goes, "Uff!" as the bag takes another hit. It's Naomi who answers, still smiling brightly. "It's a jump rope! I've seen how they use them. Kind of like… " She picks up another jump rope, and makes a great show of lining it up behind herself. The nurse flips it over her head and manages to jump over it once, with a long pause, and the second flip gets the rope tangled up in her hair. The girl is apparently not very coordinated.

"Oh, my." Lilac reaches over and tries to pick the robe out of Naomi's hair. "It looks simple, but not everything that looks simple is, now is it?"

Smirking, Anisa walks over to a closet on the side of the room, and starts to pull out assorted protective garb. "One, no attacks to the eyes," she says while pulling out two pairs of forearm guards. "Two, no hitting below the belt – although that's more for Jack's protection than anything else. Three-" She pulls out two chest guards, and two pair of shin guards. "-no hitting to the back of the head. We don't want anyone going blind." The Lapi picks up the gear, and clumsily carries it to the ring, into which she dumps all the pieces. "Oh yeah, fish hooking should go without saying. Jack, I hope you brought your cup, 'cause I can't promise anything with someone from another gym."

Jack ambles over to the ring, taking up some of the pads and beginning to lace up. "Oh, no worries, no worries. This is just a little warming up, I figure. No need for anyone to get hurt." Hauser abandons his punching bag to head over to the ring to look on curiously, a towel draped over his shoulders.

"Mmm. Ah, it is like training the young, then," Kin says with a firm nod. "I will endeavor not to harm him greatly, then." She walks over to ringside and kneels down. With ritualistic motion, she draws the sheathed swords from her sash and lays them gently beside the ring. She bows once to the ring, then pushes up with her legs, leaping back into a stance. The Kiriga then enters the ring and stakes some time figuring out how to put on the pads. "Master Tooth would be disappointed … using pads," she murmurs in Imperial.

"The young and the brash, pretty much the same thing," Anisa comments, grinning slyly at Jack. She gets to the middle of the ring and stands on the referee's mark, paws clasped behind her back as she waits for the combatants. "Y'know Jack, Hauser did a number on you last week when you guys sparred, sure you're up to it?"

Naomi nods emphatically at Lilac, laughing a little self-consciously. "Oh yes, I quite agree. This certainly isn't my thing, I just patch up the ones that hurt themselves." She tilts her head. "What brings you here? You don't really seem the sort… er, not that I mean anything by that, just that… "

"Oh, I'm with the others," Lilac explains, waving a hand towards Kin as she climbs in to the ring. "We're in town on, um, business, and I'm just waiting around. I've never been to a gym, before. I travel, but I don't … " she waves the jump rope, making it flop, " … work out or anything." Then, stepping back, Lilac stretches the rope between her hands before whirling it forward and taking an experimental hop over it.

With the laces of his arm guards in his teeth, Jack wiggles the mitt on, talking with his teeth clenched. "Now that was just luck. Plus Hauser's got reach on me, and he dang near tripped me with those gangly legs of his. I'll get him next time, just you wait."

Fwip! It's child's play for Lilac… really, for most people.

Kin continues to struggle with the pads. The Kiriga is obviously not used to wearing such. Starting to look moderately frustrated, she waves Gibson over, asking, "Can you assist me with this … oddly squishy armor?"

Naomi nods again. "Well, you seem to be doing much better than I! Really, none of this is my kind of thing, but Miss Snowshoe is the nicest boss I could ask for. This is just a stepping point until I'm a good enough bard to strike out on my own."

Jack and Hauser exchange glances, but Gibson makes his way over to lend a paw. "Sure, put your hand in that one… okay, make a fist, and I'll lace this part up here… "

Glancing as the rope lands behind her, Lilac shrugs, then flips the rope again. She continues to speed her jumping up until she's in a regular rhythm. "Really? Are you going to start your own shop, and patch people up there?" Lilac tilts her head, the wind of the rope causing locks of her hair to shift across her face. "I'm doing the same, did you know that? Kin is my boss."

Kin does as ordered. "Thank you, Gibson," she says. "Master Longtooth never used padding during our training. He believed with pain came wisdom. I am not certain about wisdom, but it certainly taught you how to dodge."

Anisa just smiles at the Terrier. "Mmmmmhmmmmmm… Maybe if you'd slow down and take your time a bit like I told you to. Anyway, we all ready?"

Jack pufts at Anisa, his bristly mustache fluttering. "Yeah, yeah." He steps to the center, reaching a glove out for a sportsmanlike touch of knuckles.

Fwip, fwip, fwip, fwip! The jump rope spins and kicks up a bit of dust beneath Lilac's feet. Naomi leans a little closer, nearly getting her nose bitten by the rope. "Doing the same? You mean you're practicing to be a bardess too? You do have a very exotic look about you."

Once Gibson has helped finish outfitting the padding, she bows her head to the Lapi. "Thank you," she says, then turns away and walks towards the center of the ring. The Kiriga bows to her opponent. When she comes up, she notices the outreached hand and stares at it oddly. It takes her a bit, but slowly she extends her arm towards the glove, assuming it's some sort of handshake … or something. It certainly can't be some form of attack, no fool is going to just stick out their arm and run around trying to poke some one, of course!

"Just tap his glove with yours," Anisa whispers to Kin with a paw to the side of her mouth. "Its kinda like a bow."

"Oh," Kin whispers and taps the terrier's glove with hers.

"Oh, don't I ever," the bardess replies in a wry voice. "I am an interesting bard." She speeds up the rope, a anxious move, causing it to whip through the air with a audible slice. "Actually, I'm an actual bardess, I just want to be better, to perform for nobles and merchant princes. But … " She lays her ears back. "Well, I don't know, now."

Anisa nods, then takes both sets of gloves in her paws. "Okay! You both know the rules, so we'll get it on. I want a clean fight, and what happens in the ring stays in the ring. And Jack? You better not embarrass me! All set? Ready? FIGHT!" The Lapi springs back away from the fighters, and keeps her eyes set on the duo with intent.

Jack nods smartly, then moseys backwards, lifting his fists up just in front of his muzzle. He shifts his weight from side to side, adopting some lazy footwork that makes him travel in a slow circle around Kin. While not overly sloppy, he doesn't look like he's taking things very seriously.

Fwippity fwippity fwippity. Naomi leans a little closer, then abruptly back as the quickening rope comes close enough to flip her bangs out of her face for her. "You don't? Why not? I'm being a nurse here, I'm not a real bardess… but I mean to be. This is just a step."

Kin doesn't dance at all, she drops into a light sideways posture, left arm raised slightly, bent at the elbow; a completely different defense posture to be sure. Her right arm is drawn back against her chest. The only current movement of the kirgia is to keep the canine aligned with her side, trying to keep her front out of direct strike range. "You must be a student of the wind," she comments. "You move like a leaf in the breeze, uncontrolled."

"Oh, you mean, you want to be a BARD? I, oh, never mind." Lilac gives a sight, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I've just had a rough time of it lately. I have a lot to think about. But, if you're going to be a bard, I want to talk to you. Maybe it'll clear my mind?" Lilac switches to skipping on one foot, then the other, as she talks. She may not be built, but she does seem to be agile. "Have you ever tried to bard? Gone to a tavern, and see if anyone would pay? Do you play an instrument?"

Anisa goes into trainer mode, glaring at Jack as she watches him with ears set back. "Stop bending your ankles so much! You're gonna trip if you keep doing it that sloppy! Keep your Dagh blasted paws up – do you ever listen to me?" she barks at the Gallah.

Jack gives Kin a quizzical look, but at Anisa's sharp comments he quickly tightens up his footwork, and is soon looking at Kin over the tops of his gloves. There's less bobbing in his step and a smoother motion around the ring, but he still doesn't look committed, and though he opens with a jab, it doesn't look like his heart is in it.

Kin is taking this very seriously, from the look upon the reptile's face. When the punch darts in, that upraised left arm rolls down, then back up into an arc, catching his arm and pushing the punch to the side, causing it to miss completely. The Kiriga then steps back and shifts positions, now bringing her right arm up as the defender and pulling her left arm back across her chest.

The Kiriga doesn't stop there. Her right arm draws in as the reptile steps forward that left hand launching outward in a firm punch towards the canine's chin.

Naomi nods again, still smiling though there's a look of concern in her warm brown eyes. "Yes! Well, sort of. I play the pipes. I've practiced on and off for a few years, I'm not too bad! And I dance a little. But the rest of it, well… I'm not as good at all the rest of the entertaining, stories or, well… standing in front of crowds. I've never been paid for it, though people seem to like the music well enough."

Jack looks a bit surprised at this, but brings his guard up quickly and slaps away the left straight. He comes back with a practiced one-two, the first punch of which forces Kin to block more decisively. She can feel some oomph behind that glove… for a short guy, the terrier's got some muscle to him.

"You may be better off looking for more quiet jobs, then. Family events, quiet restaurants, temples, … um … funerals … " Lilac rocks her head back as she thinks, letting the rope continue to go. "There's all kinds of barding, you know? I like to travel, and be in front of people, but sometimes they just want you to stand in the back and play. They don't want to talk to you, and sometimes not even see you, they just want the music."

The Lapi woman keeps her eyes set on the two, temporarily pausing her trainer's tirade against Jack to let the canine focus. Her ears swivel forward in interest now – particularly, they focus on Kin.

Naomi pauses to consider this. "Funerals… hmm. But isn't that really more of just… well, a musician?" The Rath'ani clasps her paws together. "I always read barding was about travel and the romance of the trade… "

It's a curious dance between the two given the differences between their styles. The terrier bounces and weaves as he and strikes. Kin steps and slides gracefully in the ring as she defends and strikes. Each time Kin strikes or guards with a hand, she reverses her stance and which appendage has which role. On one of Kin's blocks, she's finally able to slide in and land a glove on his jaw just before she draws back and resumes her stance. Through this her expression is completely without emotion.

"Oh, it is. But, are you ready for that? You have to make it happen, you know? You have to go at it and not look back, you need charisma, too! And, you need an angle. Something that makes you different and memorable! A bard who's forgotten easily wasn't very good, after all," Lilac explains. She lets the rope slow, then stop, before she reverses it and skips the other way.

"Point, Kin! Stop advertising, Jack!" Anisa yells at the terrier, only momentarily taking her eyes off of Kin to give the direction.

The terrier's gotten some good swings in, to his credit, and Kin can feel the power behind his blows. But after trading strikes a few times, Jack is a little too slow to bring his guard back up, and his muzzle is thrown to the side, the dog making a little "Pfft!" noise as he's hit. He dances back, looking more startled than anything.

The terrier looks to be trying to get his bearings, but he isn't allowed the time…

Kin glides in with a flurry of graceful blows, putting Jack on the defensive. To his credit, he manages to fend off some … but eventually another blow gets through and connects firmly (and audibly!) with his jaw. As before, the Kiriga slides backwards from her opponent and prepares her next assault.

Anisa just shakes her head. "You were wide open, Jack! Point, Kin!"

Fwippity fwippity, fwip, fwip. Swip. Swip, swippity, swippty. Naomi seems rapt, not sure whether to be impressed with Lilac's grace or what she says. "But… well, no I'm not ready yet, but… memorable? I'm not sure what'd be memorable about me… what do you do?"

"Oh, well, I'm exotic. I'm from Sylvania, for one. It's a land full of monsters and shadows, far from the cultured cities. I travel, I listen, and I learn. I'd even call myself an adventurer." Lilac switches to skipping with every other foot, switching from left to right and back again as she hops. "I am Lilac, the Flower of Sylvania."

"Guf!" Jack's head swings the other way as his snout is tagged again. He tries swinging his way out of his predicament, but it's clear he's losing balance under the pressure of Kin's relentless and precise attacks.

Naomi looks awestruck. "The Flower of Sylvania! Here? Will you be playing? I'd love to hear."

And the Kiriga doesn't give the terrier any mercy. She glides in again, fists flying. The first Jack is able to ward off, but it only leaves him open for the second, which connects firmly with his jaw, thud. she slides back into her stance. One can imagine she's readying another assault.

Anisa's blank expression turns to a frown as she watches Jack, her verbal tirades stopping as a look of concern crosses her face. She doesn't even bother to call the point this time.

"Oh, I might," Lilac answers, seeming to warm up to the attention. Her tail even wags – until the rope nearly whacks it. "Now, I'll give you some advice: being a bard is also about being an actress. You have to seem interesting, even if you don't think you are. You have to be confident, or the audience will know, and they'll lose confidence in you. Always seem like you're the most interesting thing ever, and that you know more than you let on. You're mysterious, exotic and interesting, and any mistake you make is intentional!"

The terrier has held his ground this whole time, and even wobbles a little on his feet. Faced with the unrelenting attacks, his first attempt to punch his way out of his predicament is met with that smart blow, but he tenaciously tries again, and this time his swings are strong and on the mark.

Naomi touches her index fingertips together, looking a little worried. "I never really was very confident," the Rath'ani admits. "I always worried I'd end up looking like this one foxish fop. Oh Star, he was the worst lutist ever, and he made up these terribly silly rhymes… but I admit, his confidence lent him a certain amusing charm."

On the mark the blows may be, but the problem is the mark can move with snakelike grace. Each blow misses kin as she slides, dips, and bends out of the way. Her expression still doesn't change as the match continues…

And the Kiriga's assault returns like a roaring fire. Three blows fly in rapid succession. The first one misses, but the next to hit. The first slams hard into the terriers gut, causing him to lean over slightly … which works for the Kiriga's follow up, a hard left to his jaw. Her back leg slides away from the terrier and she draws back. "Do you yield?" she asks him in a quiet and surprisingly gentle voice as she readies her next assault.

The terrier wobbles on his feet, left wide upon. Doubled up through the padding, the second hit sends him sprawling to the ring floor with a grunt. He sits up slowly, shaking his head out and squinting, putting a glove to his muzzle. "Nngh."

Anisa steps between the two fighters, holding her arms out lengthwise between the two. "Yield or no, this match is over. Winner, Kin!" The Lapi gives the lizard a small smile, then turns to Jack with her paw extended to help him up. "Jack, you're outclassed. Time to get back to practice!"

"Well, there you go! He may have been awful, but he had charm. You even remember how awful he was! Infamy and fame are sort of similar that way, are they not?" Lilac lets the rope pass through one more rotation before she catches it, smiling. "That was fun. You know, I've never been quite so agile before … I … " Her smile wavers. "Well! Even if you're not actually confident, you need to look like you are. Doesn't patching people up take confidence? I mean, I wouldn't let a nervous person near me."

Kin bows lightly to Anisa and Jack. "You have power, sir, you just need more practice," she says polite dignity. And then with a rather lack of dignity, the starts trying to shake those gloves off her hands.

The terrier puts his gloved hand into Anisa's, standing with her help. "Ugh." He nods a little numbly, and Naomi glances over at him, then back at Lilac. "You'll have to excuse me, miss," the raccoon says. "Looks like I'm on the job. Thank you, though! I hope to see you again!" She scurries over to where a groggy-looking Jack is stepping out of the ring, the dog mumbling something akin to agreement with Kin. Hauser gives the Kiriga a respectful, if somewhat uncertain glance, then makes his way over to his friend.

Anisa stays with Jack long enough to make certain he's alright, then backs away a bit to make way for Naomi and Hauser. "Well! Now I bet you're glad we use the pads! Good effort out there, Jacko. Next practice, I'll go over what you did wrong and right." She gives the terrier a friendly pat to the shoulder, then walks over to Kin. "Y'know," she begins, helping the Kiriga with her pads, "that was impressive. You may have to spar with me sometime so I can learn some of your moves. Do you have any jobs lined up while you're in Rephidim?"

The terrier waggles a gloved paw, nodding, then has Naomi peering into his eyes while he explains to Hauser, "Doesn't give you a chance to breathe, rough lady that one."

"That was different from how I would usually fight," Kin admits to Anisa, "I am used to fights that are harsher." As the Lapi helps her remove the gear, she adds, "As for work, no. Gibson had told me the Museum would help me since I am now a member, but, I could use other work. If nothing else, to learn a bit about this land. I find it … vexing."

Anisa pulls off one of the gloves, and starts to unlace the other. "Well, if you have any free time from the museum, you're welcome to help out around here. I could use an extra sparring trainer, with me being the only one and all." She pulls off the second glove, and steps back. "Of course, we'll still use the pads. Most of my customers only do this casually, you know."

"I do not understand," Kin admits and motions towards the pads. "These do not give the true feeling of a fight. Doing this casually … well, I must accept it is the culture. Please forgive my ignorance of your traditions. I would be honored to share the teachings of my lands with you and your customers."

Another Rath'ani who looks distinctly out of place arrives at the door, and he's led into the gym by Wanda, who quietly chats with the older fellow.

Lilac goes back to skipping, seeming to take comfort in the simple activity. She does glance at Kin and her fight, but only shakes her head.

"Yeah, but people have jobs and stuff they have to go to afterwards," Anisa replies. "Wouldn't be so great if you go to work looking like chopped forest hog." She smiles to the Kiriga, then hops out of the ring. "When we get some free time, we'll make it official. Hello Wanda!"

The Skeek waves amiably, and Gibson joins his sister in the greeting. "Hi there, Jervis. What's news?"

Being someone who's never had a job, that hadn't ever occurred to the Kiriga before. "That does have some logic," she thinks as she exits the ring as well and retrieves her swords, then slides them into her sash. She motions to Lilac, then heads towards the arrivals.

"Well, I'm glad you asked," says the scholar. Under his arms are various map and scroll cases, and a few books. "I've been studying some of the documents you've brought me… not easy to make heads or tails, dear me, no. I've learned some things, at any rate. But that's not all."

Anisa walks over to her brother, and leans lazily against the larger rabbit with arms crossed. "What else have you learned? For that matter, you still need to fill us in about the basics – what's Vandringar up to?"

"And what he wanted or wants in Jadai, and what his connections to the Artist Hakuu is for that matter," Kin adds to the conversation as she reaches the group.

Letting her rope slow as she notices the Rath'ani has arrived, Lilac lets the rope fall in to her hands when it falls from its last revolution. She carries it over to the party, and gives Gibson a glance. Without a word, she walks over to leans against his other side.

Anisa blinks at Lilac's action, but then just shrugs with a grin, turning her attention back to the raccoon.

Without really seeming to notice or think about it, the black rabbit places his arm around Lilac. The scholar wiggles his whiskers fretfully. "I hate to disappoint, but I can't begin to guess at what they're doing. But this morning, when I went to see my office after the templars had secured it, I learned I wasn't the only scholar attacked. Several others have gone missing."

"Then we are already too late. We must seek out their fortress and demand an honorable duel for the return of the scholars," Kin comments quietly.

Anisa frowns at the news. "I guess if he couldn't recruit the brains he needed, he figures he'll just take them. If he has another crystal, that's probably bad news."

The scholar shrugs. "It's terrible news. I knew some of them, been to their offices many times." He hefts his papery burden. "Is there anywhere I can set these down?"

"A crystal?" Lilac's ears perk, then swivel towards Anisa. "Oh, like the one you mentioned before? Hmmm." She takes a deep breath, then exhales, saying, "I don't think we can oppose him directly. If I learned anything, it's much safer to approach these sorts of things quietly. And, oh," she looks between the others, "are we all that oppose him?"

Gibson says, "I'm sure that officially, the established governments wouldn't approve of them. But they've got tendrils in a lot of things, and they're good at covering their tracks."

"We can use my office." Anisa playfully pushes off of her bigger brother, and walks over to the mentioned room. "Here, let me make some space… " With that, she pushes the huge stack of papers off of her desk, and onto the floor beside it. She plops down into her chair and swivels a 360. "Woo! That felt good."

"We are all there needs to be, Lilac. Even a small stream can cut a path through a mountain," Kin comments and looks at Lilac … and how she's leaning on Gibson. She nods to herself as if deciding something, then follows Anisa into her office.

Wanda raises a brow, but grins a little. Tinsnip just hesitates for a moment, then begins setting things out and unpacking the cases. "I certainly wish we had more, both information and manpower. This, and the disappearance of my colleagues, well, it's all very alarming."

"Like a small fist can make a Gallah's nose bleed?" Lilac asks as she pushes off Gibson and follows along. "Don't think I didn't smell that. You get in to a lot of fights, and you don't even drink!"

"That was not a true fight. I did not seek to kill him," Kin points out. "That was no different than you practicing your music."

"Mmmhmm." Lilac gives Wanda an exaggerated eye-roll, then sits on Anisa's desk.

Though there's a lot to the sheaf of papers, Jervis unrolls a map to begin with, and lays several parchments next to it. It's a detailed map of Nagai and the surrounding territories, with several sections outlined in red ink, and dotted here and there.

Anisa leans forward in her seat, nose twitching as she surveys the map. "I hope that red ink means something other than what I think it means… "

Kin leans over the map to get a better look and see if there is anything she would recognize offhand. "What do the markings mean?" she asks, "Places they have taken over?"

"Or people they have finished kidnapping, I guess," Lilac remarks as she looks at the map. Absently, she reaches out and paws at the air in an effort to grab Gibson's arm.

"Nothing so overt," says the Rath'ani. "But some of their communiques refer to preparations in this area here, and some of the research seems to match it. The things they've been researching have been old legends referring to a being of some sort, a person of note that achieved 'oneness'. Strangely, the 'being' part is emphasized, like it refers to a state of being, or the… the act of being, for lack of better words." He looks up across the map to Kin. "I'm hoping you might be able to shed a little more light on what 'oneness' is. At any rate, varying ancient accounts, some conflicting of course, place this person as having died in this area, or at least this is where they were last seen." The raccoon runs one of his fingers over the area marked in red. "There are complications of a more contemporary nature, however… "

Gibson crooks his elbow a little, letting Lilac's hand find it.

"There are many meanings that could be applied to oneness. Without more information, they would all be guesses," Kin notes as she peers over the map. "What are the current issues you are referring to?"

Anisa gives a quick glance to Lilac and Gibson, but quickly turns her attention back to the raccoon. "Didn't the book mention something about 'oneness'? Dagh, we should have brought Royce with us."

"Well, both Hakuu – I'm not calling him lord – and Vandringer seem to want more than relics they could put on the shelf, right? So, it must be something big." She squeezes Gibson's arm, leaving her hand there. "And, didn't we have the legends? The ones I read? It sounded like the 'oneness' referred to a woman who became 'one' with nothing, or something like that. It was really deep, in a way."

Tinsnip moves his fingertip over a title, indicating the area. "This region changed hands in a manner of speaking after the assassination of the Emperor-Potentate our generation knew. It became more or less independent, the settlements there forming a loose government. It wasn't recognized as a country, but as the new Emperor rose to power, and acknowledged the Savanites, he was at the time also forced to acknowledge the other regions that claimed independence, if only to continue the lifeblood of trade within the still functioning core of the Empire." The area is titled "Viper's Hold", with several smaller titles indicating individual settlements. It sits disturbingly close to the Desolate Band.

"That area wasn't important to the Empire. Desolate and full of brigands. It was not a loss for the Empire to have released its claim on it," Kin comments about the area indicated. "It was most often a haven for slaver camps, as the land cannot support large cities. I do not know of anything significant that was ever found there; as least nothing I was ever told of."

"The Desolate Band? I think I've heard of that, and even if I hadn't, it sounds like an awful place." Lilac says, tapping the band with a finger. "Then again," she adds, cocking her head and making her ears go askew, "I did live near the Cave of No Return, and plenty of people returned from that."

"The Cinders don't bother with insignificant places," Anisa says, "so we know there's something there. Are there any other legends about the place?"

Jervis shakes his head. "Not legends, no. It's not a terribly nice place. That said, it did represent a certain amount of resource, taxes, holdings, prestige, et cetera. Not to mention, hunters crossed from it into the Desolate Band from time to time to seek 'exciting' game in the Beast Lands. I'm sure that, while it wasn't important, it wasn't something the Emperor would have given away if he'd had a choice. Of late, however, there's been a bit more attention there… "

"What sort of attention?" Kin inquires and looks up. "I have not heard of anything and I left the Empire not too long ago."

Gibson can feel Lilac's grip strength in a twitch at the first mention of the Beast Lands. "The Beast Lands? Why isn't anything ever Peaceful Fields, or Tranquil Meadow?" She pulls on Gibson's arm, trying to draw him over. "Of course, I'm definitely going."

"No one said we were going there," Kin notes, "Yet."

Gibson shifts his weight a little to keep his balance, moving with Lilac. "It's alright," he says. "The Beast Lands are pretty far into the Desolate Band. Nobody who actually doesn't mean to goes that far out there." He pauses, then snaps his fingers. "Though, it is a little weird of a coincidence. Sis, you remember that whole devolution nonsense? Supposedly, children born in the Beast Lands are savage, feral. Crazed."

"Oh, I'm sure we are. That's how my life goes," Lilac insists. "ADVENTURE."

Anisa splays her ears outwards. "That fits in with Vandringar's normal way of things then." She leans back in her chair. "But even still, if its something they can't control, then why go there? I mean, unless they've doing some crazy stuff with their wives. And I wouldn't put that past them."

"Stupidity, you mean," Kin comments, "One does not just go to the Beast Lands unless they seek their own death." She shakes her head, then looks to Anisa. "What did they do with their wives?"

Anisa waves a paw in misunderstanding. "Nothing, that I know of at least. I just meant the whole devolution thing – I wouldn't be surprised if they had their wives give birth out there just to see what happens. They're so bent on this 'purity' nonsense."

Tinsnip taps the red outline again, sniffing impatiently. "Well, what I really meant was more recent than that, even. There's word of unrest coming from the region. The banditry problems have been getting worse, and the local government can't really handle it. Things have always been rough there, but it wasn't anarchy or civil war at least. It's ripe for a usurpation. Who ends up in the governance seat there, well… nobody knows who may rise. Everyone's holding their breath. With the old government dissolving, and talk of attacks on what were previously or currently Imperial citizens, rumor has it the Empire might even find an excuse to annex Viper's Hold, though politically it may be difficult, and it's likely someone else will claim power first."

"And you think that someone might be Vandringar?" asks Anisa.

With Gibson close, Lilac resumes leaning against him. "Did you say the Beast Lands can make people … feral? Wild?" She frowns, ears flattening. "How, um, interesting."

"Then that may be what Hakuu is aiming for in his declaration to the Emperor, and why he is seeking a display such has never been seen before," Kin reasons, "Which, perhaps, may be helped if the uprisings in those lands are being funded by the Cinders in reality. He could then ride in and calm things, and thus proving he was worthy of the position. A noble in Jadai … not much in the greater world. He seeks beyond those island shores."

Tinsnip shrugs at the women. "I can't say for certain, but the pieces would fit with unsettlingly ease. Why they'd want control there… well, that much I have no idea."

Anisa brings her feet up to the chair and sits cross-legged. "Well… Maybe we better go there and find out?" She looks at the assembled faces, and shrugs. "I mean, how else are we gonna find out?"

The black Lapi looks down at Lilac, his ears lopping. "Well, it's a legend. Anisa and I, when we first dealt with the Cinders, they had some… er, 'people' that looked normal on the surface, and… " Gibson looks increasingly uncomfortable.

"It is likely it is something they believe is there than something they know for certainty," Kin says after some thought. "Do Imperials come to this land often? Perhaps I can learn from them some news that hasn't been shared to non-Imperials."

Lilac leans back until she's looking up at Gibson. "And, what?" With her ears back, and her sad smile, she looks like she already suspects – and yet doesn't want to know.

"They were… um, beneath it all they were animals." Gibson closes his eyes, sighing. "They were beasts. Mad and savage. They were barely kept in disguise and in control by small silver amulets that they were made to wear."

Lilac closes her eyes at the answer, breathing a sigh. Instead of commenting, she just lays back like that, dropping all her weight against the Lapi.

Gibson looks for an excuse to talk about something other than the beasts, and pipes up, "Uh, yeah… yes, there's plenty of Naga in Rephidim. No district per se, but you can find them just about anywhere."

Anisa nods in agreement with her brother, "There are people from your homeland at the docks all the time, and they come to the bazaar to drop off their goods. You're bound to run into someone there you can speak with."

"Naga, yes, but recent arrivals would be more useful, I think," Kin comments and then shrugs. "Before anyone goes anywhere, we should exhaust information available here first. I … guess I will go back to the docks and ask around. Or perhaps the bazaar, if you can show me where that is."

"We should try and find those people, too," Lilac adds, quietly. "Maybe they haven't been carried out of the city."

The black Lapi nods. "The docks, the scholar's quarter for visiting scholars… we could ask if anyone passed through Snowshoe's." He gives Lilac a little squeeze where she's held to his arm. "And that's a good point too. Maybe we can check where they went missing first."

The doe grins, "You've already been there. That's the area the Tavern's in, although I guess you haven't gotten a chance to look around it yet." She looks to Lilac, and nods. "That's not a bad idea. They'd have to smuggle the people out of Rephidim somewhere, but booking even undocumented airships takes time."

"Did you not mention a place called … Darkside, Underside? Somethingside? A place where the … disreputable ones gather," Kin suggests. "That may be a good place to start a search."

Anisa frowns, setting her ears back. "Darkside, yeah. Its on the other side of the Bazaar, but it's nota friendly place. But they're probably going through there, and I'd bet those toughs were fought at the mansion were hired there. They didn't seem like the normal Cinders type."

"You know, toughs like that, they like to drink. And, men who drink like to talk," the human woman offers. "It might be too late by the time they do, though."

"They'll still have to go to the docks to leave Rephidim," Anisa adds, "unless they leave through the Underside. If that's the case, then we'll be dealing with a whole other barrel of eeps."

"They are hired. I've fought some of them before," Kin says, "There are a lot more than just the few you saw." She stretches her neck a bit, then adds, "It is a pity I could not seek 'employment' in their group, or pretend to be a 'Jadaian whore' they seem so fond of to get information."

Gibson shrugs. "I tried seeking employment with them, but I guess I tipped my hand too early."

"They'd pinch your bottom and you'd punch them, and that'd be that, you know, Kinny," Lilac insists. She opens her eyes and sits up, rubbing her head as her ears twitch. "Men like that, they're rough, and you won't take it long."

"They may be looking specifically for me, as well," Kin points out. "For various … reasons."

"Kinny," Lilac asks, looking at the Jadaian. "Do … you think they're looking for me, too?"

"Unlikely," Kin replies simply.

Tinsnip gestures at Lilac. "Well, uh… if the idea of the Desolate Band doesn't appeal, there is the other thing the young lady here mentioned." He opens one of the books, and flips a few pages, skimming some passages. "Ah, yes… the 'nothingness', the 'void'. That's actually something seperate, and revolves around more specific legends coming from Sylvania and parts surrounding."

Lilac nods her head slightly. "So they don't … know, Kinny? That's good, very good." She resumes leaning on Gibson.

Kin shakes her head. "Not to my knowledge, no," Kin comments. She tilts her head towards Tinsnip and says, "I am not discounting going to the Band, I just want to gather more information on what to expect. Rushing blindly into the unknown is … foolish."

"Oh yes. Yes, I quite agree." Tinsnip nods quickly. "Well, I'll carry on studying, shall I? And I'll see if I can't find some information from the Temple about my colleagues. I'd like to know even if just out of professional curiosity."

"If I think of anything possibly relevant to the term 'oneness', I will inform you," Kin says with a small dip of her head. "We should plan to regroup this evening and discuss anything uncovered over dinner. I suspect we have little time and will have to work quickly."

"You mentioned some of your colleges have been kidnapped. Who were that and what ddi the specialize in? I wonder if we could gather more clues based on what expertise they are trying to gather. For example, what do you study primarily?" Kin inquires after a moment of thought.

"Hey Gibson," Lilac whispers over her should, waving him to bend down so she can talk to him privately. "Can I have your ear, a moment?"

The Rath'ani adjusts his spectacles. "Oh, well, I've got a good general background, and I've done considerable research for the Temple in the past on old artifacts concerning them. I suppose archeology would be my focus as a Curator, but I do find rather a lot to like about Sylvanian myth and lore, so you could call me a specialist in that regard, I suppose."

The tall black rabbit leans down a bit, aiming his ears down as well. He keeps his voice low to keep from disturbing the other conversation. "What's on your mind, Lilac?"

"Then we can assume they wanted you for the Sylvanian myth," Kin comments and leans forward, setting her elbows on the desk. She rests her her chin on her palms. "What about your missing colleges? What did they specialize in?"

"Do you think I should … " Lilac's words trail off as the curator mentions his specialty, her eyes widen. "Oh," she whispers quickly to Gibson, "I'd better talk to him, hadn't I?"

Anisa swivels her ears curiously at the human, then looks back to Tinsnip. "How much do you know about the artifacts Gibson and I found before? Has the museum learned anything new about them?"

Tinsnip blinks, then looks down at his books, wringing his paws. "Oh my. I … well, that should have occurred to me, really. Well, let's see… Hendel Silversnout, he's a Karnor with roots in Nordika. He dealt a lot with the Vykarin, one of the only experts available since there isn't a lot of interest in the region. Ah, hmm… oh yes, Dr. Krii Vistid, he does business with the zelaks, studies them. A bit kooky, if you ask me. Finally, there was an Eeee lady… very curious, they called her Dragonfly. She was considered a scholar, but honestly I don't really know what she did, she kept to herself."

The raccoon pauses for breath, then shrugs helplessly at Anisa. "Not a lot, I'm afraid. The First Stone is the one we know the most about, and that's limited to what your experiences were. That brick of black substance doesn't seem to have any properties other than being incredibly tough. We can't scratch it. From what you described about the dark under towers, we presume it must have been some sort of building material for whatever that culture was. The glass cylinder with the colorful swirls in it… haven't the foggiest, really."

Gibson glances up at the Curator, then back at Lilac. "That's what he's here for… if you have questions for him, don't be shy."

Kin nods at this and reaches over. She pulls the marked map closer and peers carefully at it, checking for marked areas that would correspond to locations the missing scholars specialized in. At hearing the description of the items, she asks, "Would it be possible for me to see those items?"

"Sir," Lilac says as she sits up, "I'm from Sylvania." Her she skews her ears, exagerating them slightly. "So, you know a lot about my country's myths and legends? Does that include exotic … " she wiggles her hands, " … fauna?"

Anisa cants her ears sideways, thinking over the artifacts. "The only two that ever did anything for me were the crystal pendant and the book… "

The map of Ai has Nagai marked up the most, but curiously, there is an 'X' over on the far side of the map, right on top of Gallis' capital, Fauxpas. There's a line slashed up into occupied Sylvanian territory to the north, but a "?" is written next to it.

Tinsnip rubs his whiskers. "The pendant seemed to have a great deal to do with the area in the Pearl that you described to us, but since that incident it's been inert. The book, well… ah… " The Rath'ani adopts a pained expression.

"Did you have any dealings with Gallis, Lady Snowshoe?" the Kiriga asks Anisa. "Do you know of interests or actions the Cinders had in that area? Whatever it is, I must assume they have obtained their goal there, judging from the map."

Anisa peers sideways at the raccoon. "What happened to it? Did you lose it?" Her ears shoot up in alarm as she sits up in her chair. "Did Vandringar get a hold of it?!"

Jervis pauses, and directs his attention to Lilac, peering at her a little more closely. "Well, a considerably amount, my girl, including some of the monster and ghost stories that are popular… hmm, your features, though… " Anisa's outburst startles the raccoon a bit. "Oh my, no! No, no, it was sent for safekeeping along with the First Stone, but, ah… well, one of the people handling it closed it, and the, uh… the hasp latched, and we can't get it open again." He looks terribly embarrassed by the notion.

"I really wish it hadn't happened before we had a chance to really study the pages. Terrible bother," Jervis adds, rubbing the back of his head a little sheepishly.

"Can you not just break the latch?" Kin asks absently.

The doe collapses back in her chair with an audible sigh of relief. "By the anchor, I almost has a heart attack!" She looks to Kin and shakes her head. "The thing was nearly indestructible when we had it – we could never open it." She scratches an ear sheepishly. "Um, that is, until I kinda… opened it…

"Oh? How did you open it?" Kin inquires as she keeps studying the map.

Anisa crosses her legs, and sits back in her chair, causing it to tilt. "I wish I could tell you. I fell asleep with it and the crystal one night, then I had this crazy dream – like the one I mentioned back at the tavern. When I woke up, it was open."

"My features … ?" Lilac leads, ears perked, until the man's attention is stolen away. She blinks, glancing at Anisa. "That must be a strange sort of book, to do that. I don't think I've heard of anything like that – what does the book do?"

"Well, then … the lock must be some sort of dream lock, perhaps?" Kin deduces and sits back from the map. Locks of white mane fall over her muzzle as she continues, "And perhaps that crystal somehow acted as a link between the lock and you. So … to open it again, perhaps you should get the book and crystal back … and well, sleep with them again."

"The really strange part," adds Anisa, "is that I had the dream again, but this time without the pendant. Plus Vandringar was there, or at least I think it was him. Where is the book being kept now?"

Wanda speaks up now, having simply quietly observed up until this point. "I was one of the 'jumps' transporting the book and pendant to a safe house cell. We move things like that in stages, and the last jump drops it off at a predetermined point so only the safe house that gets it knows for sure who has it. We can put the call out to have it brought back. Might take a week or so."

"That might not be a bad idea," Kin suggests, then adds, "Although, perhaps all these attacks have been a ruse to scare people enough into bringing the book back into the open. Unlikely, but something to consider."

Lilac glances back at Gibson, giving him a little shrug before she resumes leaning on him. "I'm worried," Lilac whispers to the man. "You … you met animal people, didn't you? What if … " She leans closer still, aiming for his ear, "What if they find out about me? I should go. I really should just go."

Gibson rests a hand on Lilac's shoulder again. "Beast people, yes, but… well, I honestly don't know what they'd do. I can understand if you're frightened. Where do you want to go?"

Anisa nods to Kin. "It's possible they want the book, but if my dream is any indication, they may not need it. Still, it'd be more useful to have it – and Royce too, since he was the one who deciphered most of it." She scratches her chin with a paw. "Maybe we should have it delivered to somewhere other than Rephidim? If this is where they're looking, then sending it elsewhere would throw them off."

"I don't know. I just … wander. I don't have anywhere to go," the human replies in whisper. She breathes a sigh, closing her eyes again. "I don't know about anything, anymore. Is it really true, Gibson? Were you just teasing me?" She reaches back and hits his chest lightly, tapping it. "Tell me you're teasing me?"

"Royce … the one with the tools," Kin says after a moment, trying to place a name with a face. "What did he decipher from it? What does the book talk about?"

The black rabbit gives Lilac a helpless little smile. "I wouldn't kid about that kind of thing, Lilac. I'm sorry I made you sleep in my room, I wasn't trying to be mean. It's just an unknown, to all of us, even you. For what it's worth, I don't think you're whatever the Cinder's creatures were. You seemed to recognize me. Please understand, I just want to be careful."

"A lot of what it talked about seemed like gibberish to me, but Royce was able to make out a thing or two," Anisa says to Kin with a shrug. "When we get back to the Tavern, we'll have to pick his ear about it. He studied it and learned more than I think he mentioned."

"Pick his ear? You mean, he stores notes in his ear about what he learned. Your ears are quite impressive, but … I don't understand how they could hold scrolls," Kin muses and rubs her chin in thought. "Well, perhaps if his head was hollow… "

Lilac opens her eyes, staring up at Gibson a moment before patting his chest. "I didn't want to believe it, but I suspected for a long time. You just don't … end up like me, and not suspect. Not in Sylvania. S'why I left, partly." She pats the man's chest, closing her eyes again. "I'm glad you were the one to tell me. I needed someone I could trust, and I'm glad you were there. I just wish … " She shakes her head, and letting her words go.

"It was mainly about a story of some people finding old ruins in Half-Valley," Anisa adds, "and they did some crazy experiments, but I don't remember much more." She laughs at Kin's comments. "It's aLapi figure of speech – ears hear everything, you know!" The doe waggles her ears a bit to reinforce the point.

Gibson gives the human woman's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Maybe it's time to find out more." He glances over at the Rath'ani, who's stuck his nose back in the books. "Jervis, did you say whether you recognized anything about Lilac here?" The scholar looks up again. "Oh, oh right! Well, not exactly, but there are a lot of legends, and certain themes are repeated: ghosts and the walking dead, transformation or hybridism, lingering curses, bloodlines and dynasties, that sort of thing."

Opening her eyes, Lilac sits up enough to watch the scholar. "Do you … Do you think any of that has to do with me?" She perks her ears, then points at them. "Because, well … I have a little problem."

"Ah. Forgive me. I am not familiar with your … slang," Kin says with a nod of understanding. "my education did not cover … language misuse." She sits back and shakes her head, commenting and waving towards the collection of papers, "None of this makes much sense. It is like we have the answer, but not the riddle."

The raccoon laughs cheerfully. "Oh, probably not! Most people who think they're under curses just happen to have an unusual physical feature that doesn't mean much, or a spot of bad luck. I mean, ha, ha… unless you happen to be turning into a monster every so often, I wouldn't worry!"

"She does," Kin comments flatly.

Anisa freezes. She looks incredulously at Kin, then at Lilac, then back to Kin. "Say what now?"

Giving a sigh and a shrug, Lilac admits, "I do." A pause, and she adds, "Or so I've been told. Kin tried to tell me, but … " She shrugs again, guilty.

Tinsnip's glances at Kin, then at Gibson as if to ask, "What, seriously?" With the black rabbit's normally boyish face devoid of humor, Tinsnip's laugh trails off. "Ha, ha… heh… ahem."

"I have not worried too much on the matter, since she does seem to recognize her friends and doesn't harm them. I had a suspicion that somehow the scent of blood aided in triggering it, but that is conjecture on my part," Kin says matter of factly. "It's also one of the main reasons I also had to get her off Jadai. She would have been killed by the guards if caught there."

"Oh, really? That was nice of you, Kin. I … Well, I guess I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I just … " Lilac lifts up her hand, reaching to run a finger across one of her ears, "I didn't really want to believe it. It doesn't seem real. Even now. Is any of this real?" She pinches her ear, goes "ow," then frowns. Her ears flatten and she sinks against Gibson. "All I ever wanted to do was become a greta bard. Not even great, I'd have settled for 'good' or above average! Not … this." She waves at herself.

Anisa still sits stock still for a bit, then leans back in her chair. Her gaze turns to Gibson with a bit of a glare, and she says something to him in what sounds like a high-pitched, chittery language. Its only a short phrase, but whatever it is, it doesn't sound happy.

"The river of life does not always flow the way we wish it to, Lilac," Kin says and tries to smile. Whether a reptile smile if comforting or not, well. "All you can do is ride the flow and make the best of the journey. People rarely get to live the life they would dream of. Sometimes you lose things dear to you. Sometimes things aren't meant to be. You are what you are. The only question you have to answer now is, what are you going to do?"

The black rabbit's ears rotate backwards, but he just nods a bit unhappily. "I know," he says, though it's not clear who he says it to. "We'll get all this sorted out, anyhow."

At Kin's smile, Lilac tries to smile back – but her ears go back and her smile is awkward. She looks like she can't decide to be pleased, or scared. "But, what am I?" she asks. "Everyone talks about this other me I don't even know. I don't remember any of it. It must have happened, but I don't remember. I'm afraid of what I don't remember!"

"You saved my life," Kin says simply. "Outside of that, it is unimportant."

"You're a… ah… dark furred creature," Gibson says haltingly, one of his hands gesticulating uselessly. "Kind of like a Jupani on all fours, and you're… you appear to be well equipped to defend yourself." The Lapi nods at Kin's remark. "And you helped me too. Really, 'monster' isn't the right term. It's actually quite pretty, in its own way."

Anisa just eyes Lilac warily, her eyes occasionally darting to Gibson with an obvious look of displeasure.

"Oh well, that's good. Lilac, The Pretty Monster of Sylvania." The woman laughs, sounding amused, if a bit strained. She reaches up and rubs her forehead, and then glances at Anisa. "You're worried about your family, aren't you? It's okay. I, well I can find somewhere else to stay. It's not like I haven't before, you know? I do get around … " To Kin, she says, "Oh, I'm glad that I could help you both. It's just … I don't remember anything. I'm glad I'm not … " she waves a hand vaguely, "eating people, or anything like that."

Anisa's ears perk up in surprise, and she gives the woman a smile – albeit an uneasy one. "Oh! No no, its just… well, it would have been nice to know before paw." Her eyes dart to Gibson once more.

"The monsters to be the most afraid of are the ones who do not look like monsters," Kin notes, then adds, "And do not blame your brother; he did not know until after rescuing the scholar here. Prior to that, only I knew. So, if you wish to blame someone, blame me. I kept it a secret."

"I'm probably just overreacting," Anisa says, smoothing her ears back with a paw. "Its just… well, when you live in a house with three little children, you tend to become overprotective."

"I don't eat children," Lilac exclaims in a high voice. She shoots a look towards Kin, for confirmation. "Right, Kinny?"

The black Lapi's ears go from rotating back to just wilting. "I'm sorry, sis. In all the excitement at the banquet hall… well, I don't know how it happened. I asked that she spend the night in my room with the door locked, and she agreed."

"Forgive me for saying this, but I need to point something out. Further involvement with Vandringar may threaten them more than Lilac would. Nothing we discuss in this room is safe for anyone. The people we deal with, Men like Hakuu, are more than willing to do whatever it might take. To be blunt, if they wanted to force your hand, all they have to do is kidnap some of your family," Kin points out, "I am sorry, but … you endanger your family just as much." The Kiriga then nods towards Lilac in agreement, "No, you do not to my knowledge."

To Anisa, Lilac nods. "I was actually hoping he was … " Her ears redden slightly, and she suddenly looks elsewhere. "Well, I didn't mind. I like your brother, I trust him." She glances at Kin, who seems to be safe to look at, and nods in mirror. "That's good. Do you think Vandringar will be after me, if he learns about me? They all seem to be interested in … problems … like mine. Those people Gibson met, The Beast Lands, and I think others were mentioned. Maybe that's why they're going to Sylvania?"

Anisa's stern look holds for a bit, but then evaporates with a small smile – this one genuine. "Well, if Gibson trusts you, then I trust you too. But um," she fidgets an ear, "its probably best that he does keep an eye on you, at least while we're back home. No offense intended-" She stops short at Kin's comments, and looks at the Kiriga with alarm. "Dagh… you have a point. Gibson, how will we make sure everyone is safe?" She fidgets in her chair.

Wanda interjects again, waving a paw. "In fairness, I dragged her into it," she says, not looking any sort of apologetic. "Didn't even really think about it, honestly. Vandringar's not that kind of guy, but I suppose the rest could be. The Museum's kept an eye on Snowshoe's since the incident. We'd know before something happened."

Kin rolls her head to look at Wanda. "The artist Hakuu kills and stuffs women for his personal art. One displeased him to the point he cut out her tongue," she says, "So, if Vandringar might not, his associates certainly would."

Anisa settles down a bit, and smirks playfully to her Skeek friend. "Thanks loads, dearie."

The mouse touches her forehead in a lazy salute. "Keeping life interesting is a tough job, sugar, but somebody has to do it."

Lilac gives Anisa a nod. "That's fine – that's okay. I don't mind, I think I'd rest easier if I knew there wasn't any chance I could do something terrible. I'd rather be locked up than loose and worried." She also nods to Kin, adding, "I saw it with my own eyes. He had several statues of … ugh, stuffed women in his office. His attendant had her tongue cut out – just for having a voice he didn't like!"

Anisa frowns at Kin and Lilac's story, falling silent as her ears roll back once more.

"And he's planning something … larger. What I do not know," Kin adds, "I was not able to determine that, but I think I was able to delay it."

"Whatever it is, I know he's a real monster, and it can't be good. That's part of why I'm here. I just couldn't let Kinny go it alone. Besides, it's dramatic," the human woman explains.

Gibson shifts a little uncomfortably. "Hakuu does seem like a pretty weird fellow," he says. "From what little I saw around his place. As to what they want in Sylvania… Jervis, you said there were some legends surrounding that 'void'?"

The raccoon nods. "There was a legend about a Korv woman whose broken heart ended up being her death. The circumstances are hazy, but the family was a well known one, and the heiress was called Raveness Margaret Pieksvaldt. The song that was dedicated to her spoke of the void in her heart as a palpable thing. Normally, I wouldn't think much of it, it's obscure at best, but with all the cross-referencing in these notes, it would seem like a very strange coincidence."

"So, you have name. Interesting. We should look up the family history of that name," Kin comments. "Do any of the other area legends have names associated with them?"

"Oh, I had been so worried about … Well, anyway: The Pieksvaldt family – I know them. Heard of them, that is. They lived far south from my village, in the now conquered area of Sylvania. Um, I remember they were large folk, that it ran in the family. They were even nobles, so, I wouldn't be surprised if some hoity-toity poodle is in their ancestral home, now," Lilac relates.

"I even know some of her old stories! She's the type of famous, tragic, character writers of tragedies wish for," the human goes on to explain. "Of course, that being said, she had a lot written about her. I mean, a lot. She was really tragic, and tragic goes far in a country like mine. I just don't know which stories are true or not."

"Then please write them all down so we can all read them. In every legend a grain of truth may be found. It's the matter of piecing the grains together now," Kin suggests.

"I'll write down what I remember. There were a lot of them, and most were sad. I tried to move away from sad tales after leaving Sylvania." She glances towards the scholar, then, and adds, "Why don't you all get something to eat while I write them down? He can help sift through them all, and we'll show you what we end up with. Plus, I can ask him about my … condition."

Kin nods. "Have either of you eaten sushi?" she asks Anisa and Gibson as she gets up from her chair. "If not, do you know of any places which may serve it? I think you would find it surprisingly good; cooked meat ruins the flavor. I'd like to introduce you to it if I can… "

Anisa gets up from her chair to follow the Kiriga, but at the mention of meat, just gives Gibson a pleading look…

The black rabbit winces at Anisa, and gives Lilac a last friendly pat. "Er… why don't I go with you two and help pick out a place? I think I can remember some with a good variety to suit a lot of tastes, and I'll bring something back for Lilac here."

Lilac smiles at Gibson, then suddenly blinks. "Wait, should I be offended when patted? Oh gods, I look like a dog! I am a dog!" Grabbing her ears, the human woman sinks a little. She glances at the scholar, and frowns, ears redding. "Oh, sorry … I guess I have a lot to get used to." Her ears then perk, and gapes. "The collar! That's why … Oh DEAR GODS." She covers her face and rubs it.

Tinsnip just blinks confusedly. "… I'm sorry?" Seeing the others move on, he begins packing up the maps and scrolls in their cases, but leaves his Sylvanian tomes open since Lilac still seems interested.

"It's … nothing. My life is just a mes- … I mean, very exciting. I am the most exciting bard I know, now." She takes a deep breath, let's her hands fall, then hops off the table as she breathes out. "Stories, let me see. If you have a quill pen and some parchment, I'll begin copying down what I know. While I do that, could you, well, um … Tell me about my … condition? Can anything be done?"

The Rath'ani man takes Anisa's departure as an opportunity to claim her chair, and he readily produces quill, inkwell, and a fresh sheaf of paper. "Well, your situation is very unusual. I've heard of a lot of curses in old Sylvanian stories. There are some common themes as I mentioned before, but they do vary greatly. According to stories, many curses can be linked back to their creators, and are often broken that way, or by fulfilling some condition. Some work more as an affliction that must be cured with quack remedies, but that's often just some ruse." The man taps his nose thoughtfully as he looks Lilac over. "Mm. Do you remember anything of what happened before this?"

"Before this?" Lilac waves at her ears. "No, no not much. I had been traveling from town to town, trying to ply my trade. Then there's this … gap. It's like a part of my life is missing. I woke up near a town apart from the last I visited, and I was, well … not wearing anything. I also had these," she gestures at her ears, wings, and tail. "I don't remember a lot about that, either. I was in a real panic, after all."

The raccoon rests his chin on his hand. "Oh, I can imagine so. Do you know of any enemies you might have had? Or where you were intending to go prior to the event? What general area you were in? Did you perhaps handle something strange beforehand? As a Curator, I've seen objects that can do very strange things to people."

"I … I just don't know. I don't think I have any enemies. I mean, who could be my enemy? I'm just a girl from a small village, if I had an enemy she'd have just … ruined my chores, I guess. I don't know anyone who has this sort of power – not outside of stories and legends," Lilac admits. She takes up a quill pen, then frowns as she stares at the page. After a moment of thinking, she starts writing. "I think I must have changed for the first time, then. That would explain why I don't remember anything. Anyway, after that, I decided to leave Sylvania – we don't take well to, well … my kind."

"I daresay not," agrees Tinsnip, frowning. "You poor thing. Have you had the opportunity to consult a mage? I deal in lore, but to the actual functional aspects of such mystical things, perhaps a mage would be your best prospect."

"I don't know. I don't have any money, I can't pay a mage. And, what if they think I'm a danger? In my country, we burn people like me. I don't want to risk that." The woman shakes her head, scratches out a line, then continues. "I know, I know, it's selfish – but I don't want to die."

The scholar scrunches up his nose sympathetically. "No, no, of course. Nobody wants to die for something like that." He tsks to himself, shaking his head. He idly flips a few more pages of his book, staring thoughtfully at them. "Speaking about the Pieksvaldts reminds me… I do know a mage who might be willing to talk to you about this."

"I assume you mean safely talk, right? Because, I really don't like the other options. I don't want my legacy to be a sad one, you know? I sing way too many of those as it is," Lilac says. She tucks her tail, a anxious gesture, as she continues to write. "I don't remember the Pieksvaldts associating with any specific mage. Oh, there were mages, but there always tends to be."

A quick shaking the Rath'ani's hands tries to reassure Lilac. "Of course, of course! This mage is a friend of a friend, and a Korv living a quiet life far from the city. They call her Jennendra, the Onyx Eye. She's been in Half Valley since before the last war happened, was alive before the Necromancer Wars occurred even. I don't know that she has an associating with the Pieksvaldts themselves, but… well, she's a Korv, she's a mage, and she's along the way if you're heading for Sylvania anyhow. Gibson has friends in Half Valley, I believe Anisa does as well. They might be able to connect you."

"From before the Wars? That must have been a interesting time to live, if grim. We have a lot of stories from that time, too. As many heroic as not," Lilac says. She diligently scribbles across the parchment, glad to have something to focus on. "Okay, I'll talk to her. I mean, what do I have to lose? Well, a lot, I suppose … But, the alternative is wandering for the rest of my life as a monster from legend." Lilac pauses in her witting, shaking her head. "They were always faceless beasts in the stories. Ravaging monsters, or heartless tricksters out to harm the town. Now, I'm one, and it all seems so … So odd. It's like being on the wrong side of the glass, or … " She shakes her head again. "It's difficult to explain."

Tinsnip reaches out to pat the girl's hand. "You can trust Jennendra. She's perfectly happy quietly operating the town's lighthouse, and doesn't mind visitors at all. She's a family friend of the Whitewhiskers, whom the Snowshoes know."

Lilac gives Tinsnip a soft smile. "I appreciate your help, and your kindness. I know I make people nervous, and that you don't mind being here with me, alone, and helping me, means a great deal to me." She tilts her head, pausing in her writing again. "I guess this is the first time you've met an actual were?" She gives a bark of a chuckle. "Me, too."

The elder raccoon chuckles to himself as well, rubbing his head just above his 'mask'. "Well, it's all rather a lot to take in, these past few days. I suppose if I can handle nearly being kidnapped by armed thugs, I can manage some research for a nice young lass. I wish I could be of more use."

"I appreciate the company, more than anything. I'd been wandering so long, so far, my life seemed like a lonely dream until I met Kinny. It wasn't so bad, except the waking up in weird places naked, but it was lonely," says the woman. She resumes writing, eyeing her work critically. "It's nice that no one seems too deeply worried. Leaving was the right choice, I think. People here, they aren't as concerned. I'm not sure what I'd do if people were afraid of me."

The scholar harumms thoughtfully. "Well, that's at least one common theme I've noticed in Sylvanian myth. Whatever the cursed may turn into, there's always something of them that remains. It takes very powerful magic to truely alter someone's mind, there's a whole school dedicated to it, really… so I think chances are, there's more of you in that beast than there is beast in you."

"That's comforting. Kin said I protected her, and so did Gibson. I guess if I helped them, really helped them, then it's not so bad. I just wish I didn't feel like I lost control of my life," the woman says. She finishes her writing, then slides the paper forward. "I didn't write the whole stories, but just the important pieces, and the name in case someone wants to look it up or hear the whole thing."

Tinsnip takes the pages, and blows on them to help the ink dry. "Very good. I'll collect this with the other information and make it available to everyone. By the Star, we'll get to the bottom of all this." The Rath'ani smiles in a grandfatherly manner at Lilac, and makes little shooing motions at her. "Now, you'd best catch up with your friends. Hurry now, I think keeping you well fed could only be a good idea anyway."

Lilac stands up, and laughs lightly. "Well, I do like to eat. Traveling may offer adventure, but it rarely offers a good meal and a comfortable bed!" She steps forward and reaches to give the Rath'ani a hug. "I want you to be careful, now, and warn your friends, too. You know how bad these people are, and we're all we have."

The raccoon pats the young woman on the back, and nods agreeably. "The Curators are on the alert now. The Cinders are formidable, but we've a few tricks up our sleeves yet. I'll have this information laid out a bit better for everyone, and in the meantime maybe there's still hope for the other missing people. Run along now."

"I'll help, if I can. I don't know if the … other me … will, but if what you say is true, maybe it will, too." Lilac gives the man a wave, then heads on out.